Six of the best for Hemel Town as Slabber opens his account

Alan Mitchell

Hemel Hempstead Town continued their preparations for the new campaign as they cruised to a 6-0 victory over Bushey Sports in Saturday afternoon’s pre-season friendly.

It was a strong Tudors line-up that took the field for the first 45 minutes and they soon took the lead after Matt Spring crashed a free-kick against the post. The rebound was headed against the bar by Jamie Slabber, before bouncing down over the line for Slabber’s first goal in a Hemel shirt.

The visitors continued to create chances and the woodwork was rattled again when Ollie Hawkins raced clear and fired in a shot that beat the keeper but cannoned back off the post.

Slabber then got his second of the match when he managed to slice through a static defence, rounding the keeper and slotting home from a tight angle into the roof of the net.

It was 3-0 after 35 minutes, with Jamal Lowe cutting inside and curling a sublime shot out of the reach of the keeper from just outside the box.

Continued Tudors pressure paid off again when Spring found himself in space just inside the area; he got his shot away and it crept just inside the post via a slight deflection to make it four.

A raft of changes were made by Hemel boss Dean Brennan at half-time, giving him a chance to look at some more players and see the potential of a few more trialists.

The game was slightly more disjointed because of this but Hemel still managed to add to their total.

Nicke Kabamba scored on the hour with a lovely turn and shot that gave the keeper no chance, followed by a late own-goal – the defender toe-poking the ball past the keeper while under pressure from James Simmonds, after good work by the busy Kabamba.

All in all, it was another good work out for the team and gave the management team plenty to ponder with the season fast approaching.

Next up for the Tudors is a trip to Biggleswade Town tomorrow night, before they visit Brackley Town on Tuesday, July 21.